Reading strategies

In Zulip, streams determine who gets a message. Topics tell you what the message is about. If you are not yet familiar with Zulip's topics, we recommend first reading about streams and topics.

This article describes a few ways to efficiently read through messages in Zulip.

Conversation by conversation

In Zulip, a conversation is a direct message thread (one-on-one or with a group), or a topic in a stream.

It generally works best to read your messages organized by conversation.

Finding a conversation to read

From the Inbox view

Inbox provides an overview of your conversations with unread messages. Conversations are shown in the same order as in the left sidebar in the web app, and you can collapse any streams you are not currently interested in.

  1. Click on Inbox (or if the views section is collapsed) in the left sidebar, or use the Shift + I keyboard shortcut.

  2. Click on a conversation you're interested in to view it. You can return to Inbox when done to select the next conversation.

You can collapse or expand the list of topics in a stream by clicking the collapse () or expand () icon to the left of a stream name.

  1. Tap the Inbox (inbox) tab in the bottom left corner of the app.

  2. Tap on a conversation you're interested in to view it. You can return to Inbox when done to select the next conversation.

You can collapse or expand the list of topics in a stream by tapping the collapse (inbox) or expand (inbox) icon to the left of a stream name.

From Recent conversations

Use the Recent conversations view to get an overview of all the ongoing conversations. This view is particularly useful for catching up on messages sent while you were away.

  1. Click on Recent conversations (or if the views section is collapsed) in the left sidebar, or use the T keyboard shortcut.

  2. The filters at the top help you quickly find relevant conversations. For example, select Participated to narrow to the conversations you have sent messages to.

The Participants column shows which users recently sent a message (newest on the left).

From the left sidebar

In the web app, the left sidebar provides quick access to your direct messages, and the streams you are subscribed to.

  1. Click on DIRECT MESSAGES or the name of a stream in the left sidebar. You will see a list of the most recent unread conversations that you have not muted.

  2. Click on the conversation you are interested in.

To see all conversations, click on more conversations (in direct messages) or more topics (in a stream).

Reading conversations

  1. Find a conversation to read.

  2. Read the conversation, scrolling down with the mouse or by pressing PgDn.

  3. If the conversation is not of interest, you can mark all messages as read by jumping to the bottom with the Scroll to bottom () button or the End shortcut.

Use the N key to go to the next unread topic, or Shift + N for the next unread followed topic, or P for the next unread direct message conversation.

Following, muting and unmuting conversations

You can improve your workflow for catching up on messages by taking advantage of following topics, as well as muting and unmuting streams and topics. Some example workflows:

  • Catch up on followed topics at the start of the day, and whenever you want to spend a few minutes checking on on the conversations that need your attention.

  • No more stressing about missing a reply to your message in streams you don't regularly read. You can automatically follow topics you start or participate in.

  • You can also mute the streams you don't regularly read, and automatically follow or unmute topics you start or participate in. In muted streams, topics you follow are automatically treated as unmuted, so it will be easy to see when someone responds to your message.

  • If you like, follow just the topics where your prompt attention is needed, and enable desktop and mobile notifications for followed topics.

Combined views

All messages

The All messages view is a feed of all the unmuted messages you have received, which combines stream messages and direct messages. It's a great way to see new messages as they come in.

You can configure All messages to be the home view for the Zulip web app.

  1. Click on All messages (or if the views section is collapsed) in the left sidebar, or use the A keyboard shortcut.

  1. Tap the All messages (globe) tab in the upper left corner of the app.

All direct messages

You can see all your direct messages in one place.

  1. Click on the All direct messages () icon next to DIRECT MESSAGES in the left sidebar.

  2. Read your direct messages, starting from your first unread message. You can scroll using your mouse, the arrow keys, End, or page up/down.

  3. You can click on a conversation in the left sidebar or a message recipient bar to narrow to messages from that conversation.

Use the Shift + P keyboard shortcut to go to All direct messages.

Stream view

Sometimes it's useful to scroll through all the messages in a stream, especially in situations where you just want a general idea of what's going on.

  1. Find the stream you want to read in the left sidebar. If you don't see it right away, you can search for a stream by clicking on STREAMS in the left sidebar, or using the Q keyboard shortcut.

  2. Click on the stream name in the left sidebar.

  3. Read messages in the stream, starting from your first unread message. You can scroll using your mouse, the arrow keys, End, or page up/down.

  4. You can click on a topic in the left sidebar or a message recipient bar to narrow to messages from that topic.

Special views

Mentions

The mentions view lets you quickly find all the places where you were mentioned. Reviewing your mentions can be a good way to start your day.

  1. Click on Mentions (or if the views section is collapsed) in the left sidebar.

  2. Browse your mentions. You can click on a message recipient bar to go to the conversation where you were mentioned.

You can also search your mentions using the is:mentioned filter.

  1. Tap the Mentions (at-sign) tab at the top of the app.

  2. Browse your mentions. You can tap on a message recipient bar to go to the conversation where you were mentioned.

Starred messages

You can star messages that you plan to follow up on later.

View starred messages

  1. Click on Starred messages (or if the views section is collapsed) in the left sidebar.

You can also search your starred messages using the is:starred filter.

  1. Tap the Starred messages (star) tab at the top of the app.